Widow of murder victim seeks mercy for killer from Pa. governor

September 6, 2012

The wife of a murder victim has asked Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to stop the execution of his killer, a victim of sexual abuse who killed two of his abusers in the 1980s. She submitted a statement supporting a clemency petition that asks for his sentence to be reduced to life without parole.

Lawyers for Terrance Williams says he was abused by five people, before killing two of them when he was in his late teens.

According to Williams’ lawyer, Shawn Nolan, the public defender at Williams’ original trial did not present information about the sexual abuse in court.

Appeals were unsuccessful. Williams, now 46, has an execution date of Oct. 3, and Nolan is asking the governor to commute his death sentence to life without parole.

“Pennsylvanians have been horrified to learn that so many children have been harmed by sexual abuse, and Terry was one of those victims,” Nolan said.

The widow of victim Amos Norwood, whom Williams fatally beat with a tire iron, submitted a letter in support of his killer.

“I am at peace with my decision and I hope and pray that my wishes are respected,” wrote Mamie Norwood.